DENVER — The cleanest takeaway from Sunday afternoon at Ball Arena was simple: the Nuggets got healthier, got back to business and now head straight into a bigger Western Conference test. Denver beat Portland 128-112 behind another Nikola Jokić triple-double, a 22-point night from Jamal Murray and the return of Peyton Watson to the rotation.
Jokić finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists for his 35th triple-double of the season, continuing the kind of stretch that has made Denver’s offense look steady even when the roster has been in and out. Murray matched him with 22 points, and Cam Johnson added 19 as the Nuggets improved to 44-28 with their second straight win.
Watson’s return may have been the most encouraging development of the afternoon. Playing for the first time since Feb. 4 because of a hamstring injury, Watson scored 14 points in just under 20 minutes and gave Denver another athletic, two-way piece back on the wing. He was one of seven Nuggets to score in double figures, a sign of the kind of lineup balance Denver has been chasing as the regular season tightens.
Portland made Denver work early. The teams traded hot shooting in the first half, with the Nuggets carrying a 75-69 lead into the break after both sides opened the matinee knocking down threes at a high clip. But Denver created separation in the third quarter, using an 11-0 run fueled by Jokić, Aaron Gordon and Johnson to stretch the margin and take control for good.
That is the version of Denver that matters most heading into Tuesday night. Not just Jokić producing another stat line that barely looks real, but Murray looking comfortable, Watson back on the floor and the Nuggets showing the kind of depth that can settle a game before it turns tense late. Sunday was not about drama. It was about handling a team Denver should beat, getting healthier in the process and carrying momentum into Phoenix.
Now comes the quick turnaround. Denver visits the Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix, with the Nuggets back on the floor less than two days after taking care of Portland.
